As men and women age, there are major things that happen to the brain and cause cognitive decline. One of the biggest changes is in its size. Aging can cause parts of the brain to shrink, leaving less tissue to do the work it used to. There’s also less communication between neurons, which makes them lose efficiency while blood flow decreases. These all sound like very bad things, and they can be. The good news is that keeping your brain sharp is possible, as long as you decide to never stop learning and using your most important organ.
Dr. Howard Tucker is an important example of how you can keep your brain from declining as you age. He was recently featured in Entertainment Times and has three important rules that anyone can use to keep their brains sharp, well into the second half of your life. It turns out that, at the age of 101, he’s the world’s oldest practicing doctor and he doesn’t have any plans of slowing down or stopping. He’s a neurologist from Cleveland, Ohio and he’s taken his place in Guinness World Records by always keeping his brain active and healthy.
Daily Ritual
The first key to his success is the schedule of daily rituals that he practices. As he puts it, “There is one principle I live by that anyone can implement: Keep your mind engaged through work, social and entertainment activities. I use three daily rituals to boost my brain health.”
Those three rituals are what have kept him going and he went into detail on all of them to help other people reach the same milestone. While it’s just as important to keep the rest of your body healthy, the brain will keep you sharp and happy as you break your own records.
Never Stop Working
The first rule is to never stop working. Dr. Tucker has been in the medical field for most of his life and he’s never considered retirement. “My job requires me to review a number of medical subjects and think through problems. Staying up to date with the latest advancements in neurology keeps my brain busy,” he explains.
That’s not all, though. On top of being a neurologist, Dr. Tucker has also passed the bar exam. He went through law school in his sixties and managed to attend classes at night, after working at his full-time medical practice during the day. He was sixty-seven years old when he passed the bar.
Always Enjoy Friends
The second ritual is to always keep up with friends. Naturally, at the age of 101, many of the doctor’s friends have passed. Rather than giving up on his social life, he simply made new friends out of his younger coworkers and colleagues. He and his wife also make dinner with friends a priority. On top of that, they have weekly meals with their children and their families, keeping them active and engaged on the social level that most older people forget about.
Reading is Fundamental
His third ritual is to always read something. It doesn’t matter if it’s a book on medical studies or fiction. “When I’m not reading about the latest advancements and treatments in neurology, I like to read biographies and detective stories. Immersing yourself in a good book, fiction or nonfiction, requires your brain to process a bulk of new information. I believe this is key to keeping your mind sharp.”
Keep your Brain Young
That’s what a 101-year-old neurologist does to keep his brain young and there’s no better source for that kind of information. Do yourself a favor and try to keep up with Dr. Tucker’s schedule. It’s not easy for everyone, but the payoff makes it more than worth it in the end. The longer you can keep your brain sharp, the better your life will be and that’s something we all have to strive toward!